State legislation enacted and scheduled to be implemented in Seattle on July 1 aims to create more affordable housing – particularly in areas with public transportation. This is sorely needed here in King County 2023, where the median price of a single-family home hit a record high of $1.03 million this spring.
The law requires any city with over 75,000 people to change its zoning laws that currently allow single-family homes only (currently over 70%) to allow properties to be sold as duplexes and fourplexes. These two- and four-family residences are known as the “missing middle” between single-family residences and higher-density apartments and other multi-unit properties.
“The future of building”
One Seattle developer says this is “what we think the future of building is.” Another real estate professional says the law will “allow an entirely new generation of homeownership and effectively provides a reset button for those that might have missed the last run of real estate in the last 10 years,”
Yet another predicts, “From Rainier Beach to Columbia City to Seattle, Beacon Hill, all the way up to Shoreline are going to be pockets of great neighborhoods that are going to have more density and more vibrancy.”
Other states, like California, where housing prices are well above the national average have enacted laws that allow for more multi-family units as well as accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on residential lots to create more affordable homes.
Whether you’re in the market for a home, you’re selling one or you’re planning to build, it’s crucial to know the current zoning laws for the area to ensure that you’re in compliance. Having experienced legal guidance in addition to a trusted real estate professional can save you a lot of unnecessary complications.